Biography

Early life and career

Born in 1468 at
Canino,
Latium (then part of the Papal States), Alessandro Farnese was the oldest son of Pier Luigi I Farnese, Signore di
Montalto (1435–1487) and his wife Giovanna Caetani,[1] a member of the
Caetani family which had also produced
Pope Boniface VIII. The
Farnese family had prospered over the centuries but it was Alessandro’s ascendency to the papacy and his dedication to family interests which brought about the most significant increase in the family’s wealth and power.

Alessandro’s humanist education was at the
University of Pisa and the court of
Lorenzo de' Medici.[2] Initially trained as an
apostolic notary, he joined the Roman
Curia in 1491 and in 1493
Pope Alexander VI appointed him Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Cosma e Damiano. Farnese’s sister,
Giulia was reputedly a mistress of Alexander VI and might have been instrumental in securing this appointment for her brother. For this reason, he was sometimes mockingly referred to as the "Borgia brother-in-law," just as Giulia was mocked as "the Bride of Christ." More disparagingly he was referred to as "Cardinal Fregnese" (translated as Cardinal Cunt).[3] As Bishop of Parma, he came under the influence of his vicar-general, Bartolomeo Guidiccioni. This led to the future pope breaking off the relationship with his mistress and committing himself to reform in his Parma diocese.[4] Under
Pope Clement VII (1523–34) he became Cardinal Bishop of
Ostia and dean of the
College of Cardinals, and on the death of Clement VII in 1534, was elected as Pope Paul III.